The New York Times's Eric Asimov weighs in today with a long essay about Robert M. Parker Jr. and his responses to recent criticism and life-changing events as he approaches what in many business settings would be retirement age.

The PourDecanting Robert ParkerBy ERIC ASIMOVPublished: March 22, 2006

PARKTON, Md.

IT has been a difficult couple of years for Robert M. Parker Jr., the wine writer who has famously been labeled the most influential critic of any kind in the world. Though Mr. Parker has gotten used to living with a big fat target painted on his back, the most recent series of attacks was especially galling to him.

A debate over the 2003 vintage of Château Pavie in St. Émilion got personal in 2004, with Mr. Parker, who lives in this rural Maryland town about 25 miles north of Baltimore, pitted against some of Britain's leading wine writers. Mr. Parker praised the wine as "a brilliant effort," but Jancis Robinson called it a "ridiculous wine," and Clive Coates wrote, "Anyone who thinks this is good wine needs a brain and palate transplant!"

It has raised the question of whether Mr. Parker's influence has diminished. In areas he no long writes about, Web-based competitors like http://burghound.com, have seized some of the territory. But in Bordeaux, which in many ways is the wine region most influenced by critics and where the most money is at stake, Mr. Parker remains largely unchallenged.

I just read the article and found it interesting. Have always supported RP and what he has done to elevate wine as a beverage, some good and some bad but in the aggregate possitive. It is not his fault that the world is full of lemmings that can't decide for themselves what a good wine tastes like. I do think that some of his critics from merry old England are sour grapes but am sure he has not done much to make friends with them. My problem, and actually it is not a problem, is that the wines he likes and the wines I like are totally different. The good news is that he seldom drives the prices up of my favorite stuff. I do have to take issue with his comment about not promoting high alcohol, big fruit wines. He may not drink them but he sure rates them high. When was the last time he gave a big score to a subtle low alcohol wine from the Loire.
Walt